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2022 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

Thermoelectric Conversion Improvement of Co-Free Skutterudite Through a Multiscale Approach

Research Project

Project/Area Number 22F22756
Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research InstitutionShibaura Institute of Technology

Principal Investigator

Mele Paolo  芝浦工業大学, 工学部, 教授 (70608504)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) LATRONICO GIOVANNA  芝浦工業大学, SIT総合研究所, 外国人特別研究員
Project Period (FY) 2022-11-16 – 2025-03-31
KeywordsSkutterudites / doping / filler / SPS / quenching / thermoelectrics
Outline of Annual Research Achievements

An attempt of preparing the double filled skutterudites of composition (Sm,Nd)y(FexNi1-x)4Sb12 was made. Due to the small quantity of fillers, we tried, in collaboration with Genova University, to prepare a precursor Sm0.15Nd0.5Sb0.8 to reduce the error in the amount of rare earths. Unfortunately, after preparing the skutterudites and analyzing it via XRD and SEM, we found out that the precursor was contaminated with Ta, coming from the crucible used for the synthesis. So, waiting for the purchase of some Nd, the fellow successfully prepared three samples of skutterudite doped with Sn: Smy(FexNi1-x)4Sb11.5Sn0.5
The three samples were prepared following the directions of collaborators which have recently studied the crossover of the system: X= 0.45 as n-type semiconductor; X = 0.55 as n-p crossover semiconductor; X = 0.65 as p-type semiconductor.
Samples were then ground, sieved and densified by SPS (500 ℃ for 7 minutes)
Room T Seebeck is promising (about -90 microV/K) and the samples will be sent soon to collaborators at NIMS to measure the thermal conductivity and power factor.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

Due to a contaminated precursor, the first batch of samples of composition (Sm,Nd)y(FexNi1-x)4Sb12 was not suitable for continuing the investigation.
The fellow started with the dopant approach in the meanwhile preparing the composition Smy(FexNi1-x)4Sb11.5Sn0.5.
The custom made apparatus to measure the power factor in the laboratory is not working properly, so samples are going to be sent to collaborators as soon as possible.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The first step for the future work is to measure the thermoelectric properties of the doped samples belonging to the system Smy(FexNi1-x)4Sb11.5Sn0.5. After the characterization of the bulk, the synthesis will be repeated and targets of 1.5 cm of diameter will be densified via SPS to be used as targets for the thin film deposition via PLD.
In the meanwhile, new tentative of synthetizing multi-filled skutterudites will be done. As for the Sn-doped samples, first the bulks will be studied, and then pellets will be used to deposit thin films.
In the end, the addition of carbon-based nanodefects will be tried in the attempt of reducing the thermal conductivity, as reported for some Co-based skutterudites.

  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2023 2022

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (3 results) (of which Invited: 1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Roadmap on thermoelectricity2023

    • Author(s)
      C. Artini, G. Pennelli, P. Graziosi, Z. Li, N. Neophytou, C. Melis, L. Colombo, E. Isotta, K. Lohani, P. Scardi, A. Castellero, M. Baricco, M. Palumbo, S. Casassa, L. Maschio, M. Pani, G. Latronico, P. Mele, and 25 more coauthors
    • Journal Title

      Nanotechnology

      Volume: 34 Pages: 292001~292001

    • DOI

      10.1088/1361-6528/acca88

    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Effect of the annealing treatment on structural and transport properties of thermoelectric Sm<sub>y</sub>(Fe<sub>x</sub>Ni<sub>1-x</sub>)4Sb<sub>12</sub> thin films2023

    • Author(s)
      Latronico Giovanna、Mele Paolo、Sekine Chihiro、Wei Pan Sian、Singh Saurabh、Takeuchi Tsunehiro、Bourges Cedric、Baba Takahiro、Mori Takao、Manfrinetti Pietro、Artini Cristina
    • Journal Title

      Nanotechnology

      Volume: 34 Pages: 115705~115705

    • DOI

      10.1088/1361-6528/aca980

    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Polymer nanocomposite spectrum down-convertors for UV sensing2022

    • Author(s)
      Darwish Abdalla M.、Sarkisov Sergey S.、Patel Darayas N.、Wilson Simeon、Jackson Rachel、Moody Nichols、Mele Paolo、Latronico Giovanna、Koplitz Brent
    • Journal Title

      Proceedings Volume 12229, Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications XVI, 1222902

      Volume: 12229 Pages: 1222902

    • DOI

      10.1117/12.2630722

    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Thermoelectric thin film devices for localized heat harvesting2023

    • Author(s)
      Giovanna Latronico, Paolo Mele, Hiroki Shigemune, Motoki Maeda, Kimiyoshi Usami, Kaito Nagai, Cedric Bourges, Takao Mori
    • Organizer
      Shibaura IT 2nd IRCGE Workshop, Tokyo (Japan)
  • [Presentation] Co-Free Skutterudite Thin Films: Optimization of the Annealing Conditions and Thermoelectric Module Measurements2022

    • Author(s)
      G. Latronico, P. Mele, C. Artini, Y. Kawamura, C. Sekine, T. Takeuchi, C. Bourges, T. Mori
    • Organizer
      Muroran Institute of Technology Rare Earth Workshop 2022 (REWS2022), Muroran (Japan)
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Developing of a Printed Thin-Film Thermoelectric Device on a Paper Substrate2022

    • Author(s)
      Giovanna Latronico, Hiroki Shigemune, Motoki Maeda, Cedric Bourges, Takao Mori, Paolo Mele
    • Organizer
      International Conference on Organic and Hybrid Thermoelectrics (ICOT2022), Kitakyushu (Japan)

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Published: 2023-12-25  

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